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REPORT ON 



WIND CAVE, CRATER LAKE, SULLYS HILL, 

PLATT, AND MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARKS 

AND CASA GRANDE RUIN 



1907 



COMPILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 




WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1908 



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o 14 iyOb 

0. or a 









REPORT ON WIND CAVE, CRATER LAKE, SULLYS HILL, PLATL, 
AND MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARKS AND CASA GRANDE 
RUIN. 



COMPILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 



AVIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK. 

This park is located near the southern end of the Black Hills of 
western South Dakota, about 12 miles east of the town of Hot 
Springs, and 12 miles southeast of the town of Custer. It has an 
area of 16^ square miles (10,560 acres). The entrance to the cave, 
three- fourths of a mile north-northeast of the center of the reserva- 
tion, is 8| miles north of Hot Springs, S. Dak., the most convenient 
railway station. 

It was set aside as a public park by act of Congress approved Jan- 
uary 9, 1903 (32 Stat. L., 765). The park is placed under the exclu- 
sive control of the Secretary of the Interior, who, amolig other things, 
is authorized to prescribe rules and regulations and establish such 
service as may be deemed necessary for its management and protec- 
tion, and, in his discretion, to rent or lease the cave from which the 
park takes its name, and also the parcels of ground within the park 
for the erection of such buildings as may be required for the accom- 
modation of visitors, the income from such rentals or leases to be 
expended in the care and improvement of the park. 

The act provides for the relinquishment of unperfected bona fide 
claims and patented lands within the limits of the park and the secur- 
ing of lands outside the park in lieu thereof. This provision was not 
repealed by the act of March 3, 1903 (33 Stat. L., 64), repealing the 
act of June 4, 1897 (30 Stat. L., 36), and acts amendatory thereto, 
allowing selections in lieu of lands situated in forest reserves, and 
accordingly a letter of instructions providing for selections in lieu 
of lands situated within the limits of the park was issued August 
14, 1905. 

At the time of the creation of the park there were ten entries, cov- 
ering 1 ,519.15 acres, 5 of which, covering 799.76 acres, have been can- 
celed, and 5 entries, covering 719.39 acres, have been found to be 
proper in all respects and patents have been issued therefor. It is 
very desirable for administrative purposes that all private and other 
interests be eliminated from the park, and an appropriation for that 
purpose should be made by Congress. 

[26472] 

(3) 



4 NATIONAL, PARKS. 

Sections 16 and 36, set aside for use as school land for the State 
of South Dakota by the organic act of February 20, 1889 (25 Stat. 
L., 676). creating said State, are located within the limits of the 
park. Negotiations were accordingly entered into with the governor 
of South Dakota with a view to having the State relinquish its right 
to such school lands and selecting in lieu thereof, under the pro- 
visions of the act of February 28, 1891, lands outside of the limits of 
the park, which has recently been accomplished. 

During the year 2,751 tourists visited the reservation, the majority 
of whom were shown through the Wind Cave by competent guides, 
without whose assistance it would be dangerous for one not thor- 
oughly familiar with the cave to make the trip. The stairs and paths 
in the cave have been renewed and repaired. 

A survey of the boundaries of the park has been completed and 
a map of the same prepared, and a hydrographic survey to deter- 
mine the existence and nature of the waters within the limits of the 
park has been made, upon the results of which the water system 
herein referred to was based. 

A water and pipe system for conveying water from Beaver Creek, 
at the northwestern boundary of the park, to the superintendent's 
office and residence building, a distance of about 2 miles, has been 
completed and will remedy a long felt want, as the geological forma- 
tion of the land precluded obtaining water by means of artesian 
wells, and there is no other source of supply except a spring located 
on patented land in the park, from which it was impracticable to 
take water. 

Mr. Seth Bullock, now marshal for the district of South Dakota, 
with the consent of the Attorney-General, continued in general charge 
of the reservation, and the superintendent, Mr. William A. Rankin, 
in accordance with instructions, has conferred with him in regard to 
its administration. 

A revocable privilege has been granted to the wife of the super- 
intendent to furnish meals to tourists at 50 cents each, which service 
had proved to be very desirable and satisfactory in former seasons. 

An estimate for an appropriation of $2,700 for the management 
and improvement of the park has been submitted to Congress. 

CRATER LAKE NATI0:N^AL PARK. 

By the act of Congress approved May 22, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 202), 
the tract of land bounded on the north by the parallel 43° ¥ north 
latitude, south by 42° 48' north latitude, east by the meridian 122° 
west longitude, and west by the meridian 122° 16' west longitude, 
having an area of 249 square miles, in the State of Oregon, and in- 
cluding Crater Lake, has been reserved and withdrawn from settle- 
ment, occupancy, or sale under the laws of the United States, and 
dedicated and set apart forever as a public park or pleasure ground 
for the benefit of the people of the United States, to be known as 
" Crater Lake National Park." 

The act setting aside these lands for park purposes differed from 
the acts of Congress creating other national parks in that it provided, 
among other things, that the reservation should be open " to the loca- 

[26471!] 



NATIONAIj pakks. 5 

tion of mining claims and the working of the same." It was not 
believed, however, to be the purpose of this provision to extend the 
mining laws to the reservation without limitation, but only to 
authorize the location and working of mining claims therein in such 
manner as not to interfere with or prejudicially affect the general 
purpose for which the reservation was established. The regulations 
for the government of the park clearly define the conditions under 
which this privilege is to be exercised. 

About 2,600 persons visited the park during August and September. 

On May 1, 1907, Mr. Will G. Steel, of Portland, Oreg., was author- 
ized to maintain in the park, from that date until November 30, 1907, 
a transportation service and camping accommodations for tourists. 
In connection therewith he was also granted a revocable permit to 
place upon Crater Lake a gasoline launch and rowboats. 

The superintendent reports a noticeable increase in the game ani- 
mals, a number of black bears and a good many deer, which appear 
to be quite tame, having been seen the past summer. 

During August necessary repairs and improvements were made on 
the trail inside the crater and leading to the waters of Crater Lake. 
Trails to Glacier Peak and Mount Scott were planned, and that to 
the latter was opened. The superintendent recommends very strongly 
the coTTstruction of a good wagon road along the Mount Scott trail, 
in order to make more easily accessible the scenery in the neighbor- 
hood of Garfield Peak (elevation 8,175 feet), Applegate Peak (eleva- 
tion 8,223 feet). Sun Creek, and the pinnacles on Sand Creek. Such 
a road would afford eas}^ access to Bridal Veil Fall, where the water 
drops 300 feet from the vertical wall of Applegate Peak, and to the 
" Pinnacles " or crater cones in the wonderful Sand Creek Gorge. 

At the head of Anna Creek, near the superintendent's office and 
residence, there is a superb waterfall which could, at nominal ex- 
pense, be utilized for lighting all the buildings connected with his 
headquarters. 

In addition to the many permanent improvements which should 
be made, a very large amount of repair work is necessary in the park 
each spring owing to the heavy snows and rains and numerous slides 
from the mountains. 

An estimate for an appropriation of $10,845 for the management 
and improvement of the park during the fiscal year ending June 30, 
1909, has been submitted to Congress. 

SULLYS HIlLIi NATIONAL PARK. 

This reservation, set aside by Executive proclamation, dated June 
2, 1904, under the act approved April 27, 1904 (33 Stat. L., 319), con- 
tains about 960 acres. It is located on the south shore of Devils Lake, 
North Dakota, having about 2 miles of shore line, with its western 
boundary 1 mile east of the Fort Totten Indian School. Inasmuch 
as no appropriation has been made for the care and protection of 
this reservation. Mr. Chas. M. Ziebach, in charge of the Indian In- 
dustrial School, Fort Totten, N. Dak., succeeding Mr. Chas. L. Davis, 
has been designated as acting superintendent, and required to exer- 
cise the necessary supervision and control over the same until other 

[26472] 



6 NATIONAL PARKS. 

provision can be made for the protection of the park. The tract is 
well wooded and has an ample supply of water and many rugged 
hills, among which, on the western boundary, lies what is known as 
" Sullys Hill." In the southwestern part of the park is a small 
body of water known as " Sweet Water Lake," west of which the 
surface is generally level and the soil good. 

Approximately, 100 persons camped in the park for three days or 
more during the past summer, and 300 spent the day in sight-seeing. 

The acting superintendent renews his recommendations for the 
fencing of the exposed boundaries of the park, the construction of a 
dock on the lake shore to accommodate visitors coming by boat, the 
placing of the roads in proper condition, the construction of the 
necessary bridges, the walling up of springs, and the clearing away 
of the undergrowth. 

An estimate for an appropriation of $3,000 for the protection and 
improvement of the park has been submitted to Congress. 

PLATT IN^ATIOIVAL PARK. 

By the acts of Congress of July 1, 1902 (32 Stat. L., 641), and 
April 21, 1904 (33 Stat. L., 220), 629.33 and 218.89 acres, respec- 
tively, at the town of Sulphur, Okla. (then Indian Territory), were 
segregated as the " Sulphur Springs Reservation," which designation^ 
by joint resolution approved June 29, 1906, was changed to " Piatt 
National Park." 

The park, with a total area of 848.22 acres, extends in irregular 
form a distance of, approximately, 3 miles from northeast to south- 
west along Rock and Sulphur creeks, including the entire course 
of the latter, and has a circuit of 9 miles. 

Within the park are 33 known mineral and 2 nonmineral springs. 
Most of the mineral springs A^re sulphur springs, although there 
are bromide, soda, and iron springs, the main groups being as fol- 
lows: Bromide and Bromide- Sulphur springs in the southwestern 
part of the park. Beach and Pavilion springs in the northwestern 
part, and Wilson springs in the southern part. The Antelope and 
Buffalo springs, nonmineral in character, are situated at the ex- 
treme northeastern and upper end of the park, at an elevation of 
1,083 feet above sea level, and discharge 5,000,000 gallons daily, which 
is the entire flow of Sulphur Creek. 

On May 1, 1907, Albert R. Greene succeeded Joseph F. Swords as 
superintendent. The park force is composed of a clerk, three park 
rangers, a forester, and a watchman for Bromide springs. 

The revenue derived during the year from temporary leases was 
inconsiderable, as almost all have been discontinued. The lease of 
W. L. Townsley to a building for residence purposes was terminated 
July 1, 1907; and the only concession now held in the park is that 
granted to A. B. McBride, expiring March 1, 1908, for permission ta 
use a pipe line which has heretofore been laid over the park lands to 
Rock Creek, for the purpose of taking water therefrom for the oper- 
ation of a cotton gin outside the park boundaries. This privilege 
will not be renewed. The balance of revenues available October 
30, 1907, for protection, preservation, and improvement of the park 
was about $27,560. 

[26472] 



KATIONAX. PAEKS. 7 

During the period from June 30, 1906, to October 30, 1907, the 
expenditures for salaries amounted to $6,300, and for general repairs 
and improvements to Bromide, Cliff Bromide, Sulphur-Bromide, 
Taff, Pavilion group, and several other springs, buildings, bridges, 
fences, etc., for extra-day labor during the summer, and for sewer 
system surveys, about $5,500. 

The office and residence of the superintendent and other buildings, 
occupied by employees, have been repaired and improved during the 
past summer. A contract has been entered into for the installation 
of a water system for the office of the superintendent, at a cost of $669. 

The Bland Hotel, which was appraised and paid for by the Govern- 
ment, under the act of April 21, 1904, after the segregation of the 
lands now included in the park, has several times been offered for 
sale, but up to the present time no satisfactory offers have been re- 
ceived. The superintendent recommends the dismantling of the 
building and sale of the material, reserving enough brick, stone, 
and structural iron for the construction of a bam and forage house 
in the park. 

If the park were inclosed with a fence to keep out trespassing live 
stock (as many as 5,550 head having been removed in five months 
during the past summer), the rangers would be able to devote more 
time to the enforcement of the general regulations of the park. It 
is estimated that the construction of a suitable barbed-wire fence 
would cost $2,048. 

The superintendent recommends the sale of all that portion of the 
park north of the south line of Davis avenue bordering on Kock 
Creek, and comprising approximately 3f acres of land ; the installa- 
tion of telephone service in the residences of all employees for the 
better organization of the park force in fighting fire and coping with 
lawlessness; the construction of a path, or burro trail, from Bromide 
springs to the Sulphur-Bromide and Taff springs, a distance of three- 
fourths of a mile, to save a roundabout walk of 2 miles, which trail 
it is also stated would materially assist the park administration ; the 
construction of a road adapted for vehicles folloAving the meanders 
of Sulphur Creek, from East Central Park to Antelope and Buffalo 
springs; a topographic survey of the park for landscaping and other 
purposes; the dismantling of the old stone building heretofore used 
as the superintendent's residence, and the purchase of driving and 
draft horses. 

There has been submitted for the consideration of the Department 
resolutions passed by the city council of Sulphur and a number of 
citizens recommending the inclusion in the park of the " South Side," 
a portion of Sulphur lying south of the park and entirely separated 
from the main part of the town, which contains approximately 234.83 
acres, with an estimated value, for the lands and improvements, of 
$100,000. In case of favorable action by Congress, the superinten- 
dent believes administration would be further aided by the addition 
of one and a half sections of land, with an area of about 200 acres, 
south of the '' South Side," containing delightful scenery and a site 
for an artificial lake. 

Responding to an urgent request of the city of Sulphur, and for 
the purpose of providing better sanitation for the park and protection 
of the waters and springs therein, surveys have been made for a sani- 

[26472] 



8 NATIONAL PAKKS. 

tary sewer system in the park, with laterals to intersect others con- 
necting with the sewer system of the city. Owing to the topography 
of the country the drainage and sewage from the city of Sulphur 
fall into Rock Greek in the park, and at times during floods the waters 
of the creek rise, overflow the banks, and completely cover adjacent 
mineral springs, which can not be free from contamination as long 
as such a condition exists unless very costly improvements are made. 
The pipes would enter the park at a point opposite First street E., and 
continue down Sulphur and Rock creeks to a point below Bromide 
springs outside of the reservation. 

The approximate cost of the work is $30,000, and, as the city of 
Sulphur would be benefited by the construction of such sewer as much 
as the Government, it will be only just to require the municipality to 
bear half the expense, and an estimate, so framed, has been presented 
to Gongress. 

During the past summer the city of Sulphur has been granted tem- 
porary permission to take water from Sulphur Greek, in the park, 
a short distance below a cascade known as " Little Niagara," for 
domestic water supply and fire protection, to the extent of 100,000 
gallons of water daily, the pumping to be done between 10 o'clock at 
night and 5 o'clock in the morning, so as not to lessen the flow of the 
creek during the daytime. The city is likewise required, in connection 
with the above, to construct a storage reservoir outside the park 
boundaries with a capacity of 500,000 gallons. 

A registry of visitors to Bromide spring shows that in September, 
1907, the number was 18,554, and in October, 15,971. As the popula- 
tion of Sulphur is approximately 4,000, it is apparent that many 
residents make daily visits to this spring, which has gained a reputa- 
tion for the medicinal qualities of its waters. About 25,000 people 
visited the park by rail to Sulphur, and about 3.000 persons came bv 
wagon and camped in the park during the year. 

Estimates for this reservation have been submitted to Gongress 
as follows : Gonstruction of stone culvert at Sulphur run, near Pavil- 
ion springs, $500; construction of park barn for horses and forage, 
$2,000; care and repair of buildings, fences, bridges, pavilions, and 
springs, $2,500 ; and one-half of the cost of construction of a sanitary 
sewer system, $15,000; total, $20,000. Other expenses of protection 
and improvement can be paid from the balance of the park revenues 
for the next fiscal j^ear. 

MESA VERDE ^^ATIOIS^AI. PARK. 

By act of Gongress approved June 29, 1906 (34 Stat. L., 616), 
certain tracts of land in Montezuma Gounty. Golo., adjacent to the 
Southern Ute Indian Reservation, were reserved and withdrawn from 
settlement, entry, sale, or other disposal, and set apart as a public 
reservation to be known as the " Mesa Verde National Park." The 
area of this tract is 65.5 square miles, or 41.920 acres, and the altitude 
of the highest point. Point Lookou.t, is 8.700 feet above sea level and 
2,000 feet above the Montezuma Valley, the southern rim of which 
follows the park boundary line on the north for miles. 

The park is placed under the exclusive control of the Secretary of 
the Interior, who is authorized to prescribe such rules and regula- 

[26472] 



NATIONAL PARKS. 9 

tions and establish such serv^ice as he may deem necessary for the 
care and management of the park, and for the preservation from 
injury or spoliation of the ruins and other works and relics of pre- 
historic or primitive man within the limits of the reservation, and to 
grant permits for the examination, excavation, and other gathering 
of objects of antiquity by any person or persons deemed properly 
qualified to conduct the same, provided they are undertaken only for 
the benefit of some rej)utable museum, university, college, or other 
recognized scientific or educational institution, with a view to in- 
creasing the knowledge of such objects and aiding the general 
advancement of archaeological science. 

The act also provides that all prehistoric ruins situated within 5 
miles of the boundaries of the park, on Indian and public lands not 
alienated by patent from the ownership of the United States, shall be 
under the custodianship of the Secretary of the Interior, to be admin- 
istered by the same service established for the custodianship of the 
park. The area of this 5-mile strip is about 274 square miles, or 
175,360 acres. 

The Rio Mancos cuts through the park and abutting 5-mile strip 
from northeast to southwest, forming a canyon 1,000 to 2,000 feet 
deep. On both sides of this gorge, more especially to the west, 
narrow lateral canyons of like depth and even more picturesque 
beauty cut the mesa into shreds, producing successions of hugh prom- 
ontories, sculptured ledges, ancl bold, jagged cliifs. The Xavaho, 
Cliff, Moccasin, and Ute are the principal canyons which enter the 
Mancos from the north. These, with their numerous branches, fur- 
nish the labyrinth of cliffs in the high and almost inaccessible re- 
cesses of which we find the abandoned homes of the ancient inhabit- 
ants. The Fort Lewis. Grass, and Webber Canyons, running into 
Mancos Canyon from the east, contain many ancient ruins, but are 
rather less picturesque than those on the west. 

Within the park jurisdiction are many notable prehistoric ruins, 
the cliff dwellings comprising a group of great importance to the 
study of American archaeology. 

The princij^al and most accessible ruins are the Spruce Tree House, 
located near the head of a draw of Navaho Canyon, originally con- 
taining about 130 rooms, built of dressed stone laid in adobe mortar, 
with the outside tiers chinked with chips of rock or broken pottery; 
the Cliff Palace, located about 2 miles east of the Spruce Tree House, 
in a left branch of the Clitf Canyon, consisting of a group of houses 
with ruins of 146 rooms, including 20 round kivas, or ceremonial 
rooms, and a tapering loopholed tower, forming a crescent of about 
100 yards from horn to horn, which is reputed to be one of the most 
famous works of prehistoric man in existence ; the Balcony House, a 
mile east of the Cliff House, in Cliff Canyon, containing about 25 
rooms, some of which are in almost perfect condition. In each of 
these villages is an elaborate system of fortifications, with in some 
cases walls 2.3 feet thick and 20 feet high, watchtowers 30 feet high, 
and blockhouses pierced with small loopholes for arrows. 

These villages and other important ruins, particularly the Spring 
House, Long House, and Mug House, are located on the Southern 
Ute Indian Reservation, within the 5-mile strip surrounding the 

[26472] 



10 NATIONAL PARKS. 

park, where the park jurisdiction is not exclusive, and it will be more 
difficult to preserve and protect such objects of antiquity than the 
ruins on the park lands. 

Prior to 1907 no appropriation was made for this park, and for 
administrative purposes it became necessary to designate the super- 
intendent of the Southern Ute Indian Training and Industrial 
School at IgTiacio, Colo., as acting superintendent of the park. 
Upon the recommendation of the Department an appropriation of 
$7,500 was made available for the improvement of the park during 
the present year, and Mr. Hans M. Randolph, of Colorado, was ap- 
pointed superintendent. Owing to the absence of any buildings for 
his accommodation on the reservation, his headquarters were estab- 
lished at Mancos, Colo., on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad. At 
this point guides and saddle and pack horses can be obtained, and 
the park is easily accessible. 

The sum of $3,000 has been set aside for the construction of roads, 
trails, and the procuring of water supply in the reservation, and 
$2,000 for the examination, excavation, and repair of ruins and other 
evidences of ancient civilization. This latter work is to be conducted 
under the immediate supervision of Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, of the 
Smithsonian Institution, which offered to cooperate with this De- 
partment in every vraj in the prosecution of scientific work in the 
park. A survey of a practicable road from Mancos in and through 
the park and the 5-mile strip to the ruins was entered upon by George 
Mills, United States deputy surveyor, late in the fall and prosecuted 
until work. Av as stopped by the snow. It will be resumed in the 
spring. The initial expense of opening the park by the construction 
of roads and trails to make accessible the many ruins, and aid in po- 
licing and protecting the reservation from forest fires, will aggregate 
approximately $19,500, and an estimate in that amount has been sub- 
mitted to Congress. 

At the time of the creation of this park there were 360 acres of pat- 
ented lands, 560 acres in unpatented entries, and lands in sections 16 
and 36 granted to the State aggregating 1,280 acres. For adminis- 
trative purposes these private holdings should be eliminated by Con- 
gress making adequate appropriation for the purchase thereof. In 
the 5-mile limit outside the park boundaries there were patented lands 
aggregating 31,535.78 acres, unpatented entries aggregating 13,872.16 
acres, and lands granted to the State aggregating 4,920 acres. An 
investigation is noAv being made in the Indian OfRce to determine the 
quantitj^ of allotted land in that portion of the Southern Ute Reser- 
vation within the 5-mile strip. 

The act setting aside the land above described as the Mesa Verde 
National Park is defective in that no provision was made authorizing 
the Secretary of the Interior to grant privileges or to lease sites to 
persons for the entertainment and accommodation of tourists travel- 
ing therein, or for using the revenues derived from such privileges, 
leases, etc., in the care and management of the park. 

[2G472] 



NATIONAL PARKS. 11 



CASA GRAXDE RUIN. 



This reservation is located near Florence, Ariz., about 18 miles 
northeast of Casa Grande station, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, 
and contains about 480 acres. It was set aside by Executive order 
dated June 22, 1892, under the act approved March 2. 1889 (25 Stat. 
L., 961). 

Casa Grande is an Indian ruin of undetermined antiquity, which 
was discovered in 1694 by Padre Kino, a Jesuit missionary. This 
great house is said to be the most important ruin of its type in the 
Southwest, and as such it has strong claims for archseological study, 
repair, and permanent preservation. It is built of puddled clay, 
molded into walls and dried in the sun, and is of perishable character. 
The main building was originally five or six stories high, and cov- 
ered a space 59 feet by 43 feet 3 inches. The walls have been gradu- 
ally disintegrating, owing to the action of the elements. A corru- 
gated iron roof has been erected over this building to protect it, so 
far as practicable, from further decay. 

Surrounding Casa Grande proper is a rectangular walled inclosure 
or " compound," having an area of about 2 acres. In this inclosure, 
which has been called " Compound A," there have recently been ex- 
cavated a number of buildings or clusters of rooms, and others are 
known to exist which have not yet been excavated. Two other com- 
pounds have been discovered and designated, respectively, " Com- 
pound B " and " Compound C ; " these' have not yet been excavated, 
but are still in the form of mounds. The three compounds together 
constitute what is known as the " Casa Grande " group of ruins. 

The custodian, Mr. Frank Pinkley, who resides on the reservation, 
reports that interest in the ruin has greatly increased as a result of 
the recent excavations. 

An appropriation of $3,000 was made by the sundry civil appro- 
priation act of June 30, 1906, for the improvement of the reservation 
and for excavation of the ruins, to be expended under the supervision 
of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 

Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, of the Bureau of American Ethnology, was 
designated to make the excavations and repairs at the ruin ; and the 
results of his work have been published by the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion in a pamphlet entitled " Excavations at Casa Grande, Arizona, 
in 1906-7" (Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, vol. 50, pt. 3). 
In summarizing the results of his work Doctor Fewkes says : 

Casa Grande and other ruins in the Gila Valley resemble each other in an 
architectural feature that is exceptional in our prehistoric ruins. This char- 
acter is a rectangular area surrounded by a wall, within which are rooms, 
courts, and plazas. The word " compound " has been adopted as a convenient 
designation of this unusual feature. There are three of these compounds in 
the Casa Grande group, and there is good evidence that they were inhabited at 
different periods in the history of the settlement. The historic building called 
Casa Grande is the most important house in the largest of these compounds, 
which I have designated Compound A. 

The appropriation for field work during last winter was devoted to the exca- 
vation and repair of the newly discovered boundary wall, buildings, and plazas 
of Compound A. It sufficed for the excavation of about three-fifths of the 
inclosed area, in addition to the surrounding wall, and for the removal of the 
debris. The surrounding wall of Compound A, which was found to measure 420 
feet north and south by 215 feet wide, and to be oriented 3° east of north, now 

[26472] 



J 2 NATIONAL PARKS. 

stands several feet in relief. In the progress of the excavation in this compound 
Is new Tooms and several courts and plazas were brought to light. The new 
rooms weiefoxmd to be arranged in groups or buildings, the ground plans of 

'"tLIc" vLuonrreTeSfa'characteristic collection of minor antiquities which 
are now in the National Museum. 

An appropriation of $3,000 for protection and improvement has 
been mide for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1908, to be expended 
under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution This appropria- 
tion it is stated, will be expended in completing the excavations and 
improvements in Compound A, and in work upon another group o± 

ruins loiown as Compound B. • ^- u a ^ r, ^i.^ 

The custodian recommends that an appropriation be made tor the 
purpose of constructing a house for the accommodation of visitors to 
the ruin storing relics which are to be selected for that purpose from 
the collection at the National Museum, etc. An estimate in the sum 
of $2 500 has been submitted to Congress for the purpose indicated. 



[26472] 

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